Speaker unit for drive-in theater



Dec. 11, 1962 O. R. MAY

SPEAKER UNIT FOR DRIVE-IN THEATER Filed March 13, 1961 Oscar R. May

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY if I UnitedStates Patent 3,067,834 SPEAKER UNIT FOR DRIVE-IN THEATER Oscar R. May, 518 Tierney Road, Fort Worth, Tex. Filed Mar. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 95,079 4 Claims. (Cl. 181-31) This invention relates to a speaker unit for a drive-in theater, and it concerns more particularly a speaker unit including a post which, in use, is positioned between a pair of parked automobiles, and which has supported thereon a pair of speakers, adapted to be controlled individually, for the use of occupants of the respective automobiles.

Speaker units which have been employed heretofore for the purpose described have included, in combination with a post adapted to be positioned between a pair of parked automobiles, a pair of individual speakers each having means whereby it is adapted to be hung upon the post when not in use, and having a flexible electric cord connection therewith whereby the speaker may be removed from the post and placed in an automobile at any desired location.

A disadvantageous feature of speaker units having individual speakers adapted to be hung upon a post when not in use, and having a flexible electric cord connection therewith, as above described, isv that the speakers are often stolen, so that operators of drive-in theaters suffer a very considerable loss due to the necessity of replacing large numbers of such speakers.

, This invention contemplates a speaker unit for a drivein theater comprising, in combination with a post adapted to be positioned between a pair of parked automobiles, an elongated, closed cabinet mounted on the post and having its opposite end portions extending laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post, a pair of speakers, adapted to be controlled individually, positioned in opposite end portions of the cabinet, a pair of flexible tubular conduits each having one of its ends extending into the cabinet opposite one of the speakers, and having its opposite end extending outwardly from the cabinet for insertionin an automobile, and sound insulating. means in the cabinet confining the sound produced by the respective speakers individually and directing it into the corresponding tubular conduits.

An object of the invention is to provide a speaker unit as described in which the speakers are enclosed within the cabinet, which advantageously may be made of steel, secured to the post, and locked, whereby the speakers are protected against theft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a speaker unit as described in which the speakers are fully enclosed within the cabinet and are thereby protected against the weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a speaker unit in which the flexible tubular conduits each consist of a flexible tubular steel core having an outer covering of molded resilient material, such as neoprene, formed thereon, whereby the flexible tubular conduits are protected against acts of vandalism such as cutting, as with a knife.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a speaker unit in which the speakers are adapted to be controlled individually, and having sound insulating means in the cabinet confining the sound produced by the respective speakers individually and directing it into the corresponding tubular conduits.

The sound insulation means above described permits each of the speakers to be controlled individually, independently of the other, and assures faithful sound reproduction and eflicient use of the speakers, whereby quality performance is obtainable by use of small, relatively inexpensive speakers.

3,067,834 Patented Dec. 1 1, 19 62" The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a speaker unit embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale, partly in section taken on a median line; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views showing details of construction.

Referring to the drawing, the speaker unit of the invention includes a post, designated by the numeral 1, which provides a support therefor and which, in use, is intended to be positioned between two parked automobiles whereby the speaker unit is available to occupants of each automobile.

The post 1 consists of a piece of pipe which is set in the ground, preferably in concrete, and advantageously may be connected below the surface to a conduit (not shown) for the lead wires to the speaker unit.

An elongated, closed cabinet, designated generally by the numeral 2, is mounted on the post 1 and has its opposite end portions extending laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post 1.

The cabinet 2 includes a rectangular bottom plate 3-, which is rigidly connected to the top of the post 1 and has an upstanding peripheral flange 4.

A rectangular cover 5, which has a pair of parallel sides 6, a pair of parallel ends 7, and a top 8, has its opposite sides 6 pivotally connected, adjacent their lower edges:

and near one of its ends- 7, as at 9, to corresponding side portions of the upstanding peripheral flange 4 of the bottom plate 3, and is additionally secured thereto by a pair of screws 10 positioned near the opposite end 7 of the cover 5.

A pair of juxtaposed tabs 11, which are connected to the bottom plate 3 and the end 7 of the cover 5 opposite The numeral 13 designates generally one of a pair of speakers, only one of. which is shown, which are positioned in opposite end portions of the cabinet 2, facing downwardly therein, and are adapted to be controlled individually.

A pair of flexible tubular conduits 14 each have one of its ends extending upwardly into the cabinet 2, thru the bottom plate 3, opposite one of the speakers 13, the opposite ends of the flexible tubular conduits 14 extending outwardly from the cabinet 2 for insertion in an automobile.

The flexible tubular conduits 14 each consist of a flexible tubular steel core 15 having an outer covering 16 of molded resilient material, such as neoprene, formed thereon. The flexible tubular steel core 15 is characterized by its hardness and its resistance to cutting, as with a knife, whereby the flexible tubular conduits 14 are not readily cut off or stolen.

A distinguishing feature of the invention is the provision of sound insulating means, as hereinafter described, in the cabinet 2 confining the sound produced by the respective speakers 13 individually and directing it into the corresponding flexible tubular conduits 14.

A rectangular, planar piece 17 of soft wood, such as white pine or balsam, having dimensions corresponding to those of the bottom plate 3, overlies the bottom plate 3, within the cabinet 2, and provides a sound insulating lining therefor.

The bottom plate 3 and the wooden lining 17 have aligned openings in which the inner ends of the flexible tubular conduits 14 are received, and have other openings, communicating with the interior of the post 1, for the lead wires to the speakers 13.

The speakers 13 are separately enclosed in a pair of closely fitting boxes within the cabinet 2, only one of which is shown, indicated generally by the numeral 18. The boxes 18 each have a peripheral wall portion 19 formed of cardboard, the lower end of which is received in one of two recesses 20 in the upper surface of the wooden lining 17, which form bottoms for boxes 18, and have friction type covers 21 formed of cardboard. The rim of each of the speakers 13 is supported on a peripheral shelf 22, formed of cardboard, which in turn is supported on an inner thickness 23 of the material of the peripheral wall portion 19 of the corresponding box 18.

A pair of inverted frusto-conical tubular members 24, formed of paper, are disposed within the respective boxes 18 with their reduced lower end portions surrounding the inner ends of the flexible tubular conduits 14 and with their enlarged upper ends positioned immediately below the peripheral shelves 22.

A pair of felt rings 25, which are placed over the inner ends of the respective flexible tubular conduits 14 and secured thereto by means of an adhesive, extend radially outwardly therefrom for engagement with the inner walls of the corresponding inverted frusto-conical tubular members 24.

A piece of loosely woven, coarse cloth 26 is placed over the inner end of each of the flexible tubular conduits 14, above the corresponding felt ring 25, and is secured thereto by clipping it to the felt ring 25.

A pad 27, formed of loose fibrous material, such as fiber glass, is placed over the top of each of the speakers 13, between the speaker 13 and the cover 21 of the box 18.

Each of the flexible tubular conduits 14 has a flattened, outwardly flared tubular fitting 28, terminating in an elongated discharge opening 29, connected to its outer end, by a swivel joint 30, for insertion in an automobile.

' The fittings 28 have depending lips 31 along the lower edges of the discharge openings 29 for engagement with the upper edge of an automobile window, or alternatively, with one of two upstanding lips 32 extending along the upper longitudinal edges of the cover 5.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A speaker unit for a drive-in theater comprising,

in combination with a post which, in use, advantageously may be positioned between a pair of parked automobiles, an elongated, closed cabinet mounted on the post and having its opposite end portions extending laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post, a pair of speakers, each having means for controlling it individually, positioned in opposite end portions of the cabinet, a pair of flexible tubular conduits each having one of its ends extending into the cabinet opposite one of the speakers and having its opposite end extending outwardly from the cabinet for insertion in an automobile, sound insulating means in the cabinet defining a pair of closely fitting, substantially sound proof chambers, immediately surrounding and enclosing the respective speakers and the inner ends of the corresponding tubular conduits, confining the sound produced by the respective speakers individually, and other sound insulating means in each of the chambers defining outwardly converging passages within the respective chambers, between the respective speakers and the inner ends of the corresponding tubular conduits, directing the sound produced by the respective (sipeakers individually into the corresponding tubular conuits.

2. The structure of claim 1, the flexible tubular conduits each consisting of a flexible tubular metal core having an outer covering of molded resilient material formed thereon.

3. The structure of claim 1, the speakers facing downwardly in the cabinet and the flexible tubular conduits each having said one of its ends extending upwardly into the cabinet opposite said one of the speakers, and the first mentioned sound insulating means supporting the speakers individually in downwardly facing positions.

4. The structure of claim 3, acoustical insulating means in each of the chambers substantially covering the back side of the speaker, and other acoustical insulating means in each of the passages substantially covering the inner end of the tubular conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,588,086 Cole Mar. 4, 1952 2,646,496 Takach July 21, 1953 2,660,943 Dion et a1 Dec. 1, 1953 2,979,150 Irby Apr. 11, 1961 

